Daniel Brackesy, 39, of Londonderry is facing several charges after swallowing crack cocaine while being booked at the Salem police station on Friday, police said.
COURTESY

Man arrested after police say he swallowed crack at Salem station

By JAMES A. KIMBLEUnion Leader Correspondent

SALEM - A 39-year-old Londonderry man who was let out of handcuffs inside the Salem police station allegedly dove across a booking room, swallowed a bag of crack cocaine and fought with a police officer.

Daniel Brackesy is now facing several charges after nearly overdosing on the drug at a local hospital, police said. Brackesy was allegedly stopped by police for several traffic violations while driving along South Policy Street Friday at 2:05 p.m. His car had no front license plate or brake lights, police said.

Officer Robert Kirley found a small amount of crack cocaine and other drug paraphernalia inside Brackesy's car during the traffic stop, police said. Brackesy was taken into custody without incident and brought to the police department's booking room. Once he was uncuffed by police to be processed, Brackesy dove to a counter and grabbed the bag of crack and put it in his mouth, police said.

Kirley began fighting with Brackesy to prevent him from swallowing the bag, police said. Brackesy swallowed the crack and continued to struggle with the officer until being struck with a Taser, according to police. Brackesy was put back in handcuffs.

The Salem Fire Department responded to the booking room to treat a laceration to the back of Brackesy's head that he received from falling after being hit with the Taser, police said. He was then transported to Parkland Medical Center to be treated for the laceration and a possible drug overdose. While at the hospital, Brackesy started showing signs of overdose and was immediately put to sleep and given a charcoal cocktail to offset the drugs, police said. He was later released from the hospital and freed on $50,000 personal recognizance bail.

Brackesy was charged with possession of a controlled drug, possession of drugs in a motor vehicle, falsifying physical evidence, simple assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and various motor vehicle violations, police said.